Govt Department Chiefs Rush To Back Election Move

Senior Hong Kong officials put out a flurry of statements on Thursday afternoon expressing their delight at the NPC's approval of Beijing's plan to overhaul Hong Kong's electoral system.

Several, including the director of fire services, the commissioner of correctional services and the commissioner of customs and excise, announced their "full support", while one – the director of immigration – declared he "fully upholds" the decision.

Captain West Wu from the Government Flying Service also announced that he was fully behind the move.

Police Commissioner Chris Tang "expressed his full support" for the decision, before going on to talk about how Carrie Lam's proposed changes to extradition laws in 2019 "led to a series of illegal violent incidents".

He threw in references to criminals advocating Hong Kong independence and self-determination, but it was not clear how his remarks were related to the way the territory chooses its legislators and chief executive.

Fire Services Director Joseph Leung said he believed having "patriots" administering Hong Kong would safeguard national security – before declaring that firefighters and ambulance personnel will "hold fast" to their posts and "stand united".

Correctional Services Commissioner Woo Ying-ming said that as the

"gatekeeper of the last element of the criminal justice system", his department will ensure prison stability and "prevent anyone in prison from organising or nurturing power to oppose the central authorities and stir up disorder in society".

Security Secretary John Lee, who "welcomed and supported" the NPC's decision, said there had been "frequent chaotic scenes" in Legco for some time.

He claimed some lawmakers had "supported violence, called rioters 'brothers in arms', colluded with foreign forces, begged foreign countries for sanctioning against Hong Kong and acted as foreign proxies".

"Patriots administering Hong Kong will put an end to the absurd period that caused destruction in Hong Kong, and usher in a new era of development for the city," he said.